LOCATING THE CITRUS GROVE. 229 



times wrought. In fact, it is well nigh impossible to es- 

 tablish and maintain a grove under these conditions unless 

 shelter of some kind be provided. If the native growth 

 is sufficient to afford protection, a belt should be left, if 

 not, a wind-break should be planted or an artificial one 

 constructed. Along the shores of the Indian River in the 

 famous Indian Kiver district in Florida, wind-breaks have 

 to be provided to break the force of the whipping wind. 

 The shores of the river are usually fringed with a dense 

 growth of cabbage palmetto and other trees. This growth 

 has generally been left by planters, fig. A., plate XVI, but 

 occasionally it has been necessary to build a wind-break. 

 Fig. B., plate XVI, is an illustration of one of these. It is 

 built of slats, sixteen feet long, three inches apart and 

 nailed to three, two-by-four stringers supported by five- 

 inch posts placed ten feet apart. To give additional sup- 

 port, the whole structure is guyed with No. 8 wire every 

 twenty feet on opposite sides. 



A slat wind-break may be advisable if land be very 

 expensive, or if it is felt that shelter must be provided 

 without delay. Generally, however, it is best to provide 

 a more substantial one of trees. In California the Mon- 

 terey cypress, pepper trees and gums are most desirable 

 for wind-breaks. The cypress is generally planted alone, 

 while the pepper trees and gums are frequently mixed. 

 The pepper trees are spreading while the gums are tall 

 and upright, consequently the combination is a good one. 

 The best trees for wind-breaks in Florida are the upland 

 willow oak, willow leaved oak and other native trees. They 

 are usually exempt from frost injuries. The Australian 

 pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) and camphor tree are quite 

 good. The camphor tree is considerably hardier than 

 most species of citrus, yet not sufficiently so to render it 



